Explore Monastic Life
Teachings from the annual Exploring Monastic Life program at Sravasti Abbey.
All Posts in Explore Monastic Life
The hindrances to ordaining
Ordination provides a direction for spiritual yearning, something very pure inside of us.
View PostReasons for monastic precepts
The more we keep the precepts, the better we get along with other people, because…
View PostThe six harmonies (continued)
Living in community with mindfulness: a long-term vision to prepare the monastery for future generations…
View PostThe precepts in modern culture
Keeping precepts in our present-day culture and relating to others in a healthy way.
View PostThe purpose of monastic precepts
Precepts serve to guide monastics in a positive direction, making the mind peaceful by abandoning…
View PostThe six harmonies
The temporary goal of a monastic is to create a community that facilitates practice, so…
View PostThe “Ratnapala Sutta”
Buddha's disciple foremost in faith who, with pure motivation, looked with wisdom at cyclic existence…
View PostGradual path to enlightenment
A condensed explanation of the lamrim, the gradual path to enlightenment.
View PostPrecepts and vows
Monastics and lay practitioners take different levels of precepts. The benefits of taking and keeping…
View PostQuestions for group discussions
How to prepare for monastic ordination. Reflecting on motivation, dealing with difficulties.
View PostBenefits of ordination
The benefits of ordination include incredible accumulation of merit, freedom to dedicate life to practice,…
View Post